Valve and fitting



March 13, 1951 E E, MARTIN 2,545,000

, VALVE AND FITTING Filed Nov. 2o, 1944 n -Hwmn jQA/EST//WQ mi,

INVENTOF?.

ATTORN EY.

Patented Mar. 13, 1951 AND ' -EarnestfjEi Martin, Entiendo:Beach; Gari, as

^ -sig.nor to'RalphiWalsli, Los-Angeles, Galf AnalicatianLNvemhsrfZO, 19.44,.Seriallloa' Y I 'This limentionsllas. t0 .d0 generally. withiimf val'vegnuid beure devises) nantiularlyihatype in ,which the vali/.e rclbsure .elementis self-.aatimin resinas@ Lt0 fluidA pressiuato. eiectla tight'. seat In comparison withlpribr valveanseahng ,devices the present' invention is peril nennst' imilartbhck-iype names/hut .embed sce, fundamenta-1 distinctons;.,allasswilihereinafterppears .tia beimsigrstloo -thaifvh inveniimr con.- tieniplates the userarri ad'aritationof thefihvenu ,l pending application erialfNo. 564;,353; iedfvN-l vember 20, i944, which .matured into-PateniNQa 2;;4383642., issuediggMarQh 30, 1948, anlenti ei Apparatus fornserting Valve Elements.

Y'Ilievariousobjectsand features will 'be-more; fullyY understood from thefpllowing detailed `{ie- 'soription of an il'lstrative'-embogliment effigie mit riefomalbioneini=itsealing engagement:with l tlirefbody;anctsuiistantialrestoration-offitsxsnape: wleninopenpositien.

4ihe-sea'l'h prfi'n'larl'yfv is-effcted =by-reoeption *off the ball valve within a bore, thel'iametereoff-which i'sjsomewliatlessthanthe valve'- diameter-so that the* valve-@dnnes radial -compressien amide"- grhatien upon'afxiilly'nirng th'ebQre; fi-fiern Be receivedwitrliin *thev leere;v the valven enY gage'manaperturezfrshoulderforseatnthe primary i autres@ of which ist@^limitifurthercdisplacemehff of; Vvalvein a-,closingY direction, although afurtnr erregt the sheulder'- is to inaintain'a andto-expandradlally-thereof in response toiinsealexlstisar;the-lzorefengagingr surfae or the; valve, -azntf astherpressure againstgthe .Valve'increasesithe .seal A .b1tarifaires 'tighter' befiausegf 'the eigpandmgtemensyiqf thezvalve: Another ,cheracteristi'fofithefgvalve or sealinggseijement isthatj it`-is"containedat substantially itsgreatest diamthe passage and the bore isa-n1 annular slfiouliierf eter within the. boreaaaipstthe wall yof which invention. Reference-fis*had-throughoutfthede seription -totheaccogrnpanyingf drawings; which:y

Fig; 4115 isa; sectional"viewishew/ing-tlieballifineq serting= tool, with itliei centainereigiitirrg appear. ingf inelevation; I

Fig. -2 is an erila'rgeelkiragrnentaryseotimralE View 'showing the inserting ltoni app'liiagiV :to-thea fitting with` the-plungerextension approaching? tliel ball contacting-position;

Fig. y 4 illustratesthesballrposi-tionwhenferceli' ley the centainerepressurer-intolsealing-conditiern within .thezttingyfandi Y Eig. 5 aeviewf illustrating ai.variati-analiz-lfg'gainfrl oflthefinventien; y :Typically tlieclosureJv erwalveffdevieehis to consist of a tting'" enerallyfiindicatjeatxflsu,

vapplietiitoa@entaille-ml2Ilfrfoivpressureamide; Fbr

example; theY ttingl-fhas-,fproven panticulanly suc cessi-ul as agilling andfsealingrsdevice{ibn-aerosol typ@ :insecticide .containers :which .are `ffillelf through the fitting l0 with a high vapor prefssaire;l compositonsuch as:aisolui'den` ci? .pyrethnumeand sesam-e: oili in .dichlorlodiuoromethane; their having a normaliA Vapori pressure, offfaroundjO-ni poundszper .square-:inem Although inciden-ta tov the invention; :theitting1:t0y isishownltoibweldegt at i2' within- :thev cavitatedbttm portion i the container.

VAThe kitting comprseaa tuloularf-louent` ildtzcon taining at passaget il EJQpen-ingf into toward; aeylindricalbormIgS. "In thejvuncture lil-fformediatsubstantially 901or with. the-Wall of-the borelI -Counterbore JIS r-:ii-ainethehere fliaft theta-pered "shoulderAA I0; f and contains atfits'fllowesendv` a-spide-rsorlape-rtured support @2111 fon'theballi cheek; As typical dimensions-within ya Vf'ttingf adapted" to4 qthe particular; purpose1 -iliustravterl; counterbora A|8l may Ahave Y'a'. da-meten foffl'025 inch, bore [6 a diameter-'0:,187finolvandtheftti-wait?Y a-dianieiieratzilofgaboutilsinchi The tting contains a ball check 22 made of a suitable elastic and deformable material, preferably a rubber resistant to any solvent properties of the container solution, and where the ball is to be inserted through the passage |5 as later explained, having the proper hardness to thereafter resist displacement out of the fitting and yet maintain a perfect fluid-tight seal. In the type and size tting shown, the rubber ball will have a hardness within the range of 40-65 as measured by the Shore Durometer. Of essential importance is the relationship between the ball size and the diameter of the bore |6: The ball diameter preferably is larger than the bore diameter, typically in the size tting described, by an amount not in excess of about 0.010 inch. Successful results have been had where the ball diameter exceeds the bore diameter by 0.005 inch.

It is to be particularly observed that the sealing action and elect of the ball are fundamentally diiferent from those of an ordinary ball check which maintains its seal soley at and by virtue of engagement with an annular seat. Referring to Fig. 4, when the ball 22 is displaced by the container pressure upwardly from the position of Fig. 3 into the bore IS, the ball, having a larger diameter than the bore, is radially compressed and deformed when a diameter of the ball enters the bore. Also the maximum diameter or crosssectional dimension of the ball is contained within the bore. The pressure displaces the ball until it engages against the shoulder I1, and depending upon the magnitude of the pressure, a greater or lesser quantity of the rubber may become displaced at- 23 into the throat 2| and passage I5, but however without forcing the ball out of the fitting even under extremely high pressures. The primary seal is effected at the surfaces of engagement between the ball and the bore I6. After engagement of the ball with shoulder I1, the pressure applied to the ball tends to expand it tightly against the bore wall, and the tightness of theengagement and seal increase as the pressureincreases.- A secondary seal is of course maintained by the ball engagement against and within the shoulder |1, but as indicated, the primary function of the shoulder is to support the ball for radial lexpansion under the applied pressure. against the bore wall I6.

' It may be mentioned that if desirable, the fitting may be permanently sealed after the container -II is charged, by filling passage |5 above the ball with solder or other permanent sealing material.

For various reasons, as under the following circumstances, it may be desirable to provide for the insertion of the ball into the fitting through the passage I5. Attachment of the fitting I0 to the'- container may be effected by completing the weld at I2 by heating the container and fitting in an oven at a temperature of around 500" F. Obviously, the rubber ball would be injured at this temperature; hence the desirability for inserting the'ball into the fitting after the latter is welded to the container.

Ball inserting means is used to apply pressure to the ball in a manner causing it to be radially deformed `and projected through passage I5 into the fitting. Particularly the inserting means contemplates the application of fluid pressure and force against the ball,-in a manner and amount such as to cause the ball to be projected into the fitting with a stream of the fluid.

As illustrative, theinserting tool, generally indioated at 25, is shown to comprise suitably interconnected barrel and cylinder sections 26 and 21 which may have differential diameters, substantially as illustrated. The barrel 26 contains a plunger 28 carrying a sealing ring 2B and a downwardly curved and convergent extension 30. The lower end of the barrel carries a tubular nozzle 3|, the bore 32 of which is shaped substantially in conformance with the plunger extension 30. Plunger 28 is connected to a piston 33 in the cylinder 21 by a rod 34 which extends through the bearing 35. Compressed air introduced to cylinder 21 above the piston 33 from line 36 under control of a suitable valve (not shown) displaces the piston and plunger downward against the resistance of coil spring 31, and the latter returns the parts to the position illustrated when the air`pressure is relieved.

The nozzle 3| carries a guide nut 38 engageable with the tting |0 upon relative movement together of the inserting tool and tting, see Fig. 2, as by elevation of the container II. The guide nut 38 contains a bore 39 which receives the body of the tting, and the lower end of the nozzle 3| has a projecting lip 40 which enters the upper end of the passage I5. At its lower end 32a, the nozzle bore is substantially straight, or has just slight downward taper.

Assuming the inserting tool to be applied to the fitting and the plunger 28 to be in the position of Fig. 1, the ball 22 may be inserted through an opening 4| in the side of the barrel and dropped into the nozzle passage as illustrated. As the plunger 28 moves downward below the opening 4|, it compresses the air in chamber 42 to a high degree suflicient to force the ball 22 downwardly within the converging throat of the nozzle bore, as exemplified in Fig. 2. Thus the ball becomes elongated and radially reduced, while high air pressure continues to be exerted against the ball, tending to force it through into the fitting. In this condition, the ball is engaged by the lower end of the plunger extension 30 as the latter approaches or nears the lower limit of its travel, and as a result the ball is projected out of the nozzle bore and through passage |5 and bore I6 into the tting counter-bore'l. It may be mentioned that in practice, the downward travel of the plunger and the projection of the tool 25 then applied to the fitting. VDownward movement of the plunger serves, vas before,

to deform and crowd the ball downwardly withiny the passage l5, and at the end of its travel, the

plunger extension 30 engages the ball and causes it to be projected into the counterbore I8.

With the ball now contained in the fitting and in the position of Fig. 3, the tapered surface 43 of the tting may be applied 'to the head or nozzle of a filling machine, and iiuidintroduced. to the container through the clearance at 44A between the ball and larger diameter counterbore I8. Upon the introduction of a high pressure fluid to the container, the ball 22 closes intoz the bore I6 to form a fluid-tight seal, allais,

previously explained. i

Fig. 5 illustrates a variational form of the invention differing from the described embodiment in the formationof, they body shoulder and the, methodof bleeding the valveE `ItIere. tbebpdyiil contains bores 5| and 52 having the same re1ationship as bores I8 and IE. The ball arresting shoulder 53 is formed by a tubular insert 54 ultimately retained in bore 55 by crimping or turning the body metal at 56 over the end of the insert.

Instead of injecting the ball into the fitting as in the first described form, the ball 57 is rst put into the body in advance of the insert 54. After the latter is inserted and the metal crimped over at 56, the fitting is ready for injection of the fluid charge into the container. Y

It is particularly desirable that shoulders I'l and 53 against which the valve element engages, be of such formation, e. g. at 90 with relation to bores I6 and 52, as to provide for an annular air space at 58, See Fig. 4, when the ball engages and seals against the inner edge of the shoulder. The maintenance of the air space at 58 permits deformation cf the Valve into the space in response to the container pressure acting against the valve, all in a manner reducing the tendency of the valve to be forced out through the passage I5.

I claim:

1. A valve device comprising a tubular body containing a rigid wall bore of substantially uniform diameter, a substantially annular shoulder at one end of the bore, an elastic deformable valve receivable within said bore and engageable against said shoulder, said valve when unstressed having circular cross-section at a diameter greater than the diameter of said bore so that the valve is radially compressed and deformed when received within the bore to effect a primary seal by engagement with the bore wall, the valve also When seated against the shoulder being deformed into the space at the juncture of said shoulder and the bore, said deformation becoming greater and said seal therefore becoming more effective as iiuid pressure forcing the valve against the shoulder is increased, thereby causing increasing resistance to the tendency of high fluid pressure to force the valve through said shoulder, and a counter-bore of larger diameter than the valve at the end of the first mentioned bore opposite said shoulder, the valve being displaceable from one to the other of said bores by oppositely applied fluid pressures.

2. A valve device comprising a tubular body containing a rigid wall bore of substantially uniform diameter, a substantially annular shoulder at one end of the bore, an elastic deformable spherical valve receivable within said bore and engageable against said shoulder, the diameter of i said valve when unstressed being greater than the diameter of said bore so that the valve is radially compressed and deformed when received within the bore, the Valve also when seated against the shoulder being deformed into the space vat the juncture of said shoulder and the bore, said deformation becoming greater and said seal therefore becoming more effective as fluid pressure forcing the valve against the shoulder is increased, thereby causing increasing resistance to the tendency of high pressure to force the valve through said shoulder, a counter-bore at the end of the first mentioned bore opposite said 6 shoulder, a tapered annular shoulder between said bores, and means for retaining the valve in said counter-bore while permitting fluid ow past the valve. f

3. A valve device comprising a tubular body containing a cylindrical bore, a shoulder at one end of said bore and about a passage having a tapered wall converging toward said bore, and an elastic deformable valve insertible through said passage and bore into an enlarged counterbore beyond the bore and being reversely displaceable by uid pressure from said counterbore into the bore and -against said shoulder, the valve having a diameter greater than the diameter of said bore so that the valve is radially compressed and deformed when received within the bore and while seated against said shoulder is deformed into a space at the juncture of the shoulder with the bore wall while remaining in engagement with said wall, said deformation becoming greater and said seal therefore becoming more effective as fluid pressure forcing the valve against said shoulder is increased, thereby causing increasing resistance to the tendency of high iiuid pressure to force the valve through the shoulder.

4. A closure device comprising a tubular bodi7 containing a rigid wall bore of substantially uniform diameter, a substantially degree annular shoulder at one end of the bore, and an elastic deformable spherical closure formed of solid material throughout and receivable within said bore and engageable against said shoulder, the closure when unstressed having a diameter greater than the diameter of said bore so that the closure is radially compressed and deformed when received within the bore to effect a primary seal by engagement with the bore wall, the closure also when seated against the shoulder being deformable only by iiuid pressure applied to the closure. into the space at the juncture of said shoulder and they bore, said deformation becoming greater and said seal therefore becoming more effective as fluid pressure forcing the closure against said shoulder is increased, thereby causing increasing resistance to the tendency of high fluid pressure to force the closure through said shoulder.

EARNEST E. MARTIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 45,373 Beard et al Dec. 6, 1864 143,294 Mendham Sept. 30, 1873 343,327 Lowrie June 8, 1886 1,508,635 Woodham Sept. 16, 1924 2,200,785 Watson May 14, 1940 2,371,293 Hoof Mar. 13, 1945 2,375,498 Seymour May 8, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country e, Date 3,595 Great Britain Oct. 19, 1874 60,752 Norway Apr. 17, 1939 

